Pride March was not about gay rights but about broader political issues

Political parties leaders have joined a Pride March organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) last Saturday in Valletta. The press and the state broadcaster covered it like any other gay pride march, quoting the press releases by political parties and describing the march as an event promoting inclusion. There has been little discussion by the press about what MGRM have been saying and demanding.

The press did cover a protest by MGRM to release from detention an asylum seeker who is a member of MGRM. The protest led to his release. MGRM has a very good relationship with the Labour government after Joseph Muscat made it his mission to ensure to capture the movement’s support. Today, MGRM can be an effective advocate for its community members with their actions and work resulting in tangible results, such as the release of an asylum seeker from detention.

MGRM has evolved significantly since since its early days when the organisation was still fighting for actual gay rights such as gay marriage. After various laws have been introduced that guaranteed the rights of the LGBT community, MGRM has developed into a left-wing group focusing on broader political issues. One of their top priorities and  current major focus is their advocacy for gay and LGBT asylum seekers and refugees. One of their other political priorities is Israel’s genocide in Gaza, although this issue is not related to gay rights.

MGRM are also proposing the introduction of free PrEP and PEP medicine and “auto-determination for transgender people”. They are also proposing an Equality Act and inclusive schools and both of these demands are unclear. Schools have been made very inclusive especially after gender separation has been abolished.

This is not about whether I agree or disagree with MGRM’s current causes – I probably agree with most of what they do and say. However the press is misrepresenting the event and MGRM’s positions or no longer exclusively tied to LGBT issues.

Maltese society has become increasingly more tolerant and inclusive and in fact it has made enormous strides with regard to LGBT rights – I remember a time when it was still called Gay Pride and we used to be only twenty people with Sandro Mangion giving speeches sitting down like in a gathering of friends on the steps of the bombed theatre. Nowadays, MGRM can get major corporate sponsors and everyone wants a Rainbow flag.

Mark Camilleri

Website Editor
Historian and Publisher